Hovmand lifting aids improve safety at workshops for people with disabilities

Hovmand A/S has supplied lifting devices to the Michelfelder workshops, a facility in Bavaria, Germany, that provides employment for individuals with disabilities. The implementation of Hovmand's lifters has significantly improved workplace safety and reduced physical strain for the employees.

The Michelfelder workshops, part of the Regens Wagner Foundation, employ 126 individuals with special needs. They work in various fields including laundry services, metal processing, textiles, gardening, and agriculture, as well as manufacturing component parts for local companies.

A key challenge at the workshops involved handling heavy boxes, weighing up to 40 kg, containing brass and steel parts for assembly. These boxes were delivered on pallets and previously required at least two people to lift and move them to workstations and stack them. Limited space and varying physical capabilities among employees amplified the risk of accidents.

The introduction of Hovmand's mobile lifters, specifically the Apollo 130 M model, has resolved this issue. Employees can now lift and transport the heavy boxes independently with the aid of electric controls. This has drastically reduced back pain associated with heavy lifting and eliminated workplace accidents related to the task. The lifters have proven particularly effective in confined spaces due to their maneuverability.

The workshops also utilize Hovmand's Impact 80 L lifters with a fork attachment for moving large cable drums. Hovmand's solutions have demonstrated high efficiency, with the workshops reporting no workplace accidents since the lifters were implemented. A total of six Hovmand lifters are now in use at the facility.